Ironing board



Nov. 17, 1931. B. s. vAuGHAN 1,831,896

IRONING BOARD Filed Feb. 12, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l ff? V677??? y Mu@ Wwf/eey@ Nov. 17, 1931. B. s. VAUGHAN 1,831,896

IRONING BOARD Filed Feb. 12, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES *PATENT OFFICE l BERKELEY S. VAUGHAN, F GENEVA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGrNO-RTO WHEELER SCREEN COM- T PANY, OF GENEVA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS IRoNTNG BOARD Application filed February 12,1930. ,dSerial Nro. 427,714.

My invention relates to an ironing board and particularly to a foldable ironing board. One object is the provision of an ironing board having a folding support which shall be easy to manipulate. Another object is the provision of an ironing board Vand folding support therefor which shall be of maximum strength or solidity. Another object is the provision of an ironing board support which shall be compact when folded in relation to the ironing board. Another object is the provision of a support for an ironing board which shall resist downward thrust upon the ironing board which in effect holds most efficiently when a downward thrust is applied upon the board. Other objects will appear from time to time inthe course of the speci-l fication and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the laccompanying drawings, wherein*- 1 Figure 1 is side elevation;

Figure 2 is a side elevation with the supports partly folded;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an end elevation; Figure 5 is a rear view of the device with the supports folded;

Figure 6 is a detail; Figure 7 is a detail Figure 8 is a section on the 4line 8*8 of Figure 7; Y

Figure 9 is a partial side elevation illustrating 'a modified form of connection between the support and the board;

Figure 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Figure 9; Vand f Figure 11 is a section on the line 114-11 of Figure 10. Y Y

l Like parts are indicated `by like symbols throughout the'specification and drawings.

Referring generally to the figures, A indicates an ironingboard.

Hinged to one end of the ironing board, lfor example to the rear end, is the table support, hereaftercalled the rear support, generally indicated Vas B and including the side members B1 which are preferably crossbraced to form a single structural unit. Any

support, a single member C. In the form of Figure 1 thismember is pivoted as by the bolt C1, to the slidable base member C1, which member is slidable along the tracks Casecured ,to the bottom of the board A. As is shown4 inFigure 3 the member C2 may include theside elements CShorizontal flanges 'C5 which penetrate the space between the tops ofvthe'tracks C3 and thebottom ofthe board A. As the tracks are secured. at their ends to the board'A they have the function not only of guidingthe member C2 and thus the end of the member C, but also of providing limitingabutments at each end of the excursion. Y

Connectingthe upper end of the member C and its associated base C2 with the rear sup port B are the braces D D1. They are carried by the pivot bolt G1 and extend thence for pivotal connection as at D2 D3 with the members B1 of the rear support B'. This connection is shown as roughly midway be'- tween top and bottom of the members B1 but it will be understood that the pivot point, and

Vof which includes the member E pivoted as at E1to the front support/C andthe member E2 pivoted as at D2 or D3. The two members are jointed as at E?, the details of the joint being shown in Figuresv 6, 7l and v8. E* E5 indicate opposed deformations of Vthe members E, E3, adjacent the pivot E3, whereby the joint may be broken in one direction of rotation but is rigid in the other.

Referring to Figures 9, lO and 1l I may if I wish dispense with the complete eXtension of the track C3 and substitute therefor a somewhat different connection between the top of the member C and the bottom of the board A. Thus I may secure to the top of the member C a blade G associated with the base G1, the base G1 being bolted as by the bolts G2, to the top of the member C. The angle between the base G1 and the blade G represents or conforms to theangular relation between the support C and the board A when it is in final or supporting position. The members D, D1 in such case may be pivoted directly to the upper portion of the support C, as shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11 and may employ a bolt D10. In order to receive the blade G and to hold it against movement in relation to the board, I employ a stirrup G3 which preferably conforms in width rather closely to the width of the blade G, whereby lateral movement of the blade G is prevented.

- It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative andl diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to my specic showing. In particular it will be understood that whereas I have sho-wn my invention as applied to an ironing board I do not wish to be limited to such use, as other applications of or uses for it may be made.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

In considering the application of my invention to an ironing board, for which use it is particularly well adapted, it must be understood that an ironing board support should be simple structurally, and should be easy to set up and take down. A t the same time it must be strong, and it must be able to support a heavy downward thrust, since the operator, in ironing, applies `heavy force to the supporting surface. Also it must resist lateral torsion or thrust, as the weight applied to the top is not limitedto a downward dead weight, and the thrust is often at least in part lateral. In connection with providing the necessary support it is important that the substantial extension of one end .of the ironing boa-rd be left free to provide skirt room, so that articles, such as skirts, may be easily ironed thereon. n

It is an advantage of my invention that the supporting structure is of such nature that the more weight is applied the more etlicient is the supportprovided, and the more intimately or tightly are the various parts of the support held together. That this should be the case should be understood from the nature of the structural elements employed. The rear support B provides a twopoint support to the floor. The single front support C, when it is in the supporting position in which it is shown in full line in Figure 4'l is rigidly tied to the .rear support by four nection includes the transverse extension of the member B and the tension connections formed by the above described flexible or breakable tension members E E2. This system of support converges primarily at the point of connection of the support C and the 3 board A. This point is established by the connection between the blade and the stirrup G3 or by the equivalent connection between the members C1E and the right end of the tracks C3, referring to Figure l. Any downward thrust upon the table consolidates the system of support above described and drives the members C1 or the blade G more firmly into final supporting position. The tension members E E2 prevent any separation of the lower 'l ends of the front and rear supports. The two triangular structures which extend from'the pivots D2 D3 hold the upper and lower ends respectively of the member C in ri id relationship with the rear support C. nce the upper end of the front support C is in its full supporting position as in Figure l, and the two generally vertical triangles, of which it forms part, cannot rotate any farther about the pivots D2 D3, then the table A and the upper portion of the rear support B become also incorporated in the supporting structure. Referring to Figure 1 I then have a quadrangular truss, or rather, two of such trusses, transversely braced, each such truss including as its four elements the member C, the portion of the top A between the upper ends of the two supports, the upper half of the rear support, and finally, the tension connection between the pivots D2 or D3 and the pivot E1. `These quadrangular trusses are given rigidity by the transverse tension-compression membersV D D1.

This extremely eicientand rigid supporting system is easily made and broken, once the operator ceases to apply pressure to the top of the table. The board A may be tilted into upright position and since no positive locking means are employed, the upper end ofthe support C-is very easily removed from its point of' connection with the board A. In the form of Figure l the upper endfofthe support C is constrained to a single plane of. the track C3 and is simplymoved forward? ly or to the left, vreferring to Figure 1,until the entire structure is collapsed. The joint between the tension members E and E2 is broken upwardly, as shown in dotted line in Figure l. The lower end ofthe rear support is swung toward the front of the board and the lower end of the front support is swung towards the rear of the board. This process is shown in intermediate position in Figure 2. When it is completed, as in the position of Figure 5 the front and rear supports lie in the same plane, snugly against the bottom of the board A. The front support is entirely enclosed within the periphery of the board, as is all or substantially all of the bracing orreinforcing structure. The rear support elements B1 project slightly outwardly from the sides of the board, but none of the supports Vor supporting structure project longitudinally beyond either end of the board.

In the form of Figures 9, l0 and 1l the supporting structure and supporting principle are the same as above described and the only real dierence is that the stirrup G3 in effect an equivalent of the track C3, is effective only when the upper end of the support C is at or near its final supporting position. When the blade G is withdrawn from the stirrup G3 the upper end of the member C is slid outwardly along or moved along the bottom of the board A substantially as if it were constrained by tracks, in the normal operation of the device. Vhile Vthe operator may slide the end of the member C along the bottom of the board it will not much affect the speed or efficiency of the operation if he withdraws it somewhat, in the course of flexing the other members.

An important feature of the device, which will be understood in connection with Figure l, isl the fact'that the points of engagement of the front and rear supports substantially underlie the ends of the board. Therefore any downward thrust or weight upon the board will be within the area of support, and will not tend to tilt the board. Y

- In connection with the locking effect and the exertion of pressure, note that there is a double effect by the exertion of such pressure. Referring for example to the form of Figures 9, 10 and 11, the downward thrust of the board, and particularly on the left end of the board positively thrusts the Vblade G into the stirrup or socket G3. At the same time the tension on the lower members E, E2 and the upward thrust on the members D, D1 to an extent opposes tlie'first mentioned force. There is a neutralization or balance of forces at the point of connection ofthe front support C with the board.'

from an upperportion of the second support to an intermediate portion of the first support, and a connecting collapsible tension member extending from a lower portion of the second support to the intermediate por-V tion of the first support, said compression and tension members being adjacently piv- I oted to the first support.

3. In a table, a table top, a support pivotally secured to said top, a second support, a connecting compression member extending from an upper portion of the second support 11 to an intermediate portion of the first sup-v port, and a connecting collapsible tension member extending from a lower portion of the second support to the intermediate portion of the first support, said compression C and tension members being concentrically pivoted to the first support.

4. In a table, a table top, a support pivotally secured to said top, a second support,

a connecting compression member extending from an upper portion of the second support to an intermediate portion of the first sup port, and a connecting'collapsible tension member extending from a lower portion of the second support to the intermediate portion of the first support, said collapsible tension member being hinged intermediate its ends.

5. Ina table, a table top, a support pivotally secured to said top, a second support, a connecting compression member extending from an upper portion of the second support to an intermediate portion of the first support, and a. connectingV collapsible tension memberextending from a lower portion of the second support to the intermediate portion of the first support, said collapsible tension member being adapted for flexure intermediate its ends.

6. In a table, a table top, aV support pivotally secured to said top, a second support, a connecting compression member extending from anupper portion of the second support to an intermediate portion of the first support, and a 'connecting collapsible tension member extending from a lower portion of the second support to the intermediate por fm Y tion of the first support, the upper end of Vtion to the table trop.

fito

BERKELEY S. VAUGHAN 

